Todd Rose | Daily Press North Central’s Gracie Kleikamp 1(4) shoots over Stephenson’s Melissa Johnson during Monday night’s MHSAA Division 4 District 66 opener in Powers. Also pictured are North Central’s Zoe LaBonte (30) and Carley Naser (32) and Stephenson’s Allie Cappaert (10).

POWERS — The 2021-22 basketball season came to its end Monday night for the North Central Jets girls as they lost 41-30 against the Stephenson Eagles in the opening round of the MHSAA Division 4 District 66 District Tournament in Powers.

For the Eagles, however, their season continues with the win as they will move on to the district semifinals today.

Stephenson coach Missy Wangerin said the team was very happy to get the win.

“They needed it,” said Wanderin. “They’re really doing well with their confidence. They’re a young team, and this just makes them grow more, and I think they’re doing good things.”

The Eagles came out strong defensively as they held the Jets to one point in the first quarter — a free throw from Zoe LaBonte — and limited shots from the Jets’ outside attackers such as Gracie Kleikamp and Sam Burton as well as Shea LaCousier down low.

“We knew we had to try doing something to keep their outside shooters to a certain level and their inside one to a certain level, and the girls worked hard to do that,” said Wangerin.

While North Central had spurts throughout the game to attempt to erase the deficit, the Eagles were able to maintain their lead to take the win.

Kassidy Havelka had 12 points to lead the Eagles in scoring while Allie Cappaert and Alayna Strahl each had 8.

“I thought Kassidy had a very good game,” said Wangerin. “The seniors stepped up. Alayna Strahl had a really strong game. She’s been timid in there, and you wouldn’t have thought that. Melissa Johnson played a strong game, too.”

“I really think all of them came together, and when the subs went in, they went in with the same intensity that the player they went in for came out with. I’m pretty proud of all of them.”

The Jets were led in scoring by Gracie Kleikamp and Sam Burton both with eight points. Shea LaCoursier, in her final basketball game for the Jets, had five while Zoe LaBonte had four, Ashton Smith three, and Carly Naser two.

Head coach Dave Florenski noted fouls and a lack of shots going in as the Jets’ downfall.

“Fouling has been our Achilles’ heel all year, and this is just a definition of that where I had three of my starters in foul trouble in the first quarter, and then we had to just change things up,” said Florenski. “It just takes us out of our rhythm and what we were planning on doing.”

With low numbers and lots of fight and heart, the one word Florenski used to describe the 2021-22 Jets was “resilience.”

“All of those same cliches — everything I’ve been telling the paper and the radio all year long — it’s a great team to coach,” he said. “I just wish we had more depth… We just had a great conversation in (the locker room), players are made in the summer, teams are made in the winter, and hopefully, we get a lot of girls that want to return.”

Two seniors — Shea LaCoursier and Sarah Snyder — made their last appearance in North Central colors as players in the game.

“Shea has been a lifer, and she’s been a great leader for us,” said Florenski. “Sarah coming out and being that there’s no ‘I’ in team, and she just proves it. Unfortunately, she blew her ACL against Stephenson the last time we played them. If we would have had her, it could have been a difference in the game.”

With the future looking bright — with returning starters and a JV squad that has improved greatly — Florenski is hopeful for next year already.

“I just love this team, and they will have a great offseason,” he said.

Stephenson 12 6 12 11 — 41

North Central 1 10 9 10 — 30

Stephenson — K. Halevka 12, Cappaert 8, Strahl 8, Johnson 7, Paidl 5, Hummel 1; FT: 16-16; Fouled out: Ruleau; 3-point field goals: Havelka.

North Central — Burton 8, Kleikamp 8, LaCoursier 5, LaBonte 4, Smith 3, Naser 2; FT: 6-11; Fouled out: Burton, Kleikamp; 3-point field goals: LaBonte, Smith.